A picture-perfect evening at Stromlo Forest Park saw Canberra locals Cameron Myers and Leanne Pompeani emerge victorious at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships Selection Trials, as four Australians officially punched their tickets to Tallahassee, Florida this January.
The Friday night affair belonged to Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) who roared over the top of a valiant Seth O’Donnell (VIC, Andrew Russell) in the final metres of the Open Men’s 10km, with the teenager saluting on home soil.
Olympian Morgan McDonald (NSW) steered the lead pack through the first half of the contest, but it was O’Donnell who broke the field apart with less than three kilometres to go in a bid to finish top two and guarantee his selection to the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
Only in the home straight would Myers erase the deficit in a finish for the ages, breaking the tape in 29:43 before throwing a curveball post-race when declaring his interest in the Mixed 4x2km Relay.
“I really want to represent Australia in the 2k [Mixed 4x2km Relay]. I think we genuinely have a shot at winning the gold with whoever gets those spots, so I really want to have a crack at that,” Myers said.
“With a lap to go, I thought I had no chance. I was not confident at all. I train at this course so often that I know every single marker back to home, so I was counting down from about 3.5km to go.”
O’Donnell held on for second in 29:44 to confirm his Australian team selection, while McDonald’s third-place finish in 29:47 also earned him selection due to Myers being available for only the Mixed 4x2km Relay.
The Open Women’s 10km attracted an equally deep field, but even some of Australia’s most credentialled distance runners were no match for Pompeani (ACT, Des Proctor), who ran her rivals into the ground with a statement victory.
The Canberra local completed the circuit in a time of 33:36 to beat home Holly Campbell (ACT, Jeremy Roff) in 34:20 as the pair confirmed their automatic selection for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, followed by Bronte Oates (NSW, Katie St Lawrence) in third with 35:14.
“I don’t actually consider myself very versatile! But I go in with a bit of confidence which is important especially against these ladies, because everyone is getting stronger and bringing the bar up,” Pompeani said.
“I knew today that I couldn’t let off at all, I was not game enough to pull back on the throttle because anyone can be anywhere at any time. I think I’m just competitive at all the distances and I want to be the best.”
“People say that World Cross Country is one of the toughest races to race, because it brings together all athletes from all distances. There are six athletes from each team and anything can happen, but I got a lot of confidence from Bathurst that I can put myself up there on my day.”
In the opening race of the night, Kayden Elliot (NSW) stamped his arrival with a scorching finish to take down Campbell Brooks (VIC) and Lachlan Moore (QLD), completing the Under 20 Men’s 8km course in a time of 24:57 as less than five seconds separated the trio.
The Under 20 Women’s 6km trial was won by Libby Mantay (QLD) in similar fashion as she stretched her legs to gap Isabella Valinoti (QLD) by eight-seconds in the closing stages to finish in a time of 20:40, while Piper Anderson (QLD) took third place as Queensland posted the first five finishers of the race.
Following the 2026 World Cross Country Championships Selection Trials, the Australian team for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships currently consists of Leanne Pompeani, Holly Campbell, Seth O’Donnell and Morgan McDonald.
The full team will be announced in the coming weeks.
Full results from the 2026 World Cross Country Championships Selection Trial can be found HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 28/11/2025
